| Author | Message | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 367 Registered: 4-2006  |
Hello everybody! I was wondering about where the SDA church states that only men can be pastors? In Christ | ||
| Helovesme2 Registered user Username: Helovesme2 Post Number: 735 Registered: 8-2004  |
I'd be interested to see where/if there is a statement about this too. Last I knew the SDA church did not oppose women 'preachers' but did not agree that they should be ordained. When I visited Elmshaven, the last residence of EGW, several years ago, I saw framed on the wall EGW's SDA ministerial license. I noted that the word 'ordained' had been struck through. Mary | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 131 Registered: 8-2005  |
My wife dropped a bomb shell on me two Fridays ago. She announced she wants to become and SDA Pastor!!! I won't go into details of my reply, but she is going to have a tough road ahead of her, her "church" will turn against her something terrible, and she is going to be in for a rough ride. There was a female pastor at the GC who would snap your head off if you didn't refer to her as Pastor ___________!!! What a mess, but I have no problems with female pastors, IF THEY TEACH FROM THE BIBLE ONLY!!!! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 3137 Registered: 3-2004  |
91steps, I have added you and your wife to my prayer list. You know better than I what the GC puts female pastors through. Diana | ||
| 91steps Registered user Username: 91steps Post Number: 132 Registered: 8-2005 |
In my heart I know she would make a great pastor, but not an SDA one!!! She talked to some Seventh-day Baptists and they would have no problem recognizing her credentials, so that may be a step in the right direction. | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 394 Registered: 4-2006 |
So SDA do allow female pastors? | ||
| Susans Registered user Username: Susans Post Number: 253 Registered: 8-2006 |
Yes, Mwh, but they can't be ordained (officially by the world church, that is). | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 399 Registered: 4-2006 |
Aha, but how does that function then? I'm confused. Women are to be ordained in other churches and then they can exercise their position in the SDA church? or? What does it mean specifically to be ordained by the SDA-church? Can a woman be ordained unofficially? ??? In Jesus | ||
| Susans Registered user Username: Susans Post Number: 254 Registered: 8-2006 |
Here is how I understand it, but I have not paid a lot of attention to things SDA in a long time. Women can go to college and earn a theology degree. They can then serve in churches as pastors, but since only men can be ordained (according to their interpretation of the biblical model) the women cannot perform certain functions that an ordained minster can. Now, having said this, I do know that male pastors serve for a period of time until they are ordained. During that time, they perform marriages, funerals, and officiate communion. So, in the end, I'm not sure if the function of women pastors is indeed limited, or if the church just doesn't take the final step to ordinate. A few years ago, I want to say 1995 or perhaps 2000, the North American Division of SDA was pushing the General Conference in world session to either adopt ordination of women pastors, or at least they made it an issue for discussion, I can't remember. The worldwide church was not as enthusiastic. The measure was voted down, but some churches in North American had an ordination service for women anyway. I'm remembering one widely public service at the Sligo Church near Washington, DC. But that ordination would not be recognized by the official General Conference. That's not a complete picture, I'm sure, Mwh. Hopefully someone will come along who could tell us both the differences in function for women pastors. But, in the meantime, I hope this has cleared some of your confusion. Blessings, Susan | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 402 Registered: 4-2006 |
Thanks Susan. Now who knows these things? | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 5086 Registered: 12-2003  |
Mwh, there is a document on the progression of Adventist ministerial credentials over the decades to comply with USA tax regulations, etc. They differentiate between "licensed" and "ordained" ministers. There are also categories called "commissioned" and "credentialed". The biggest controversy has occurred over the duties and financial remuneration assigned to the "licensed" and the "ordained" ministers. Women typically have been able to achieve "licensed" status but not "ordained". In the Southeastern California Conference individual churches have ordained women pastors on their staffs with the more or less tacit permission of the Conference. The article is here: http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/wo/IRSandRedefinition.htm Colleen | ||
| Mwh Registered user Username: Mwh Post Number: 403 Registered: 4-2006 |
Nice, thanks. |
